Hydraulic ram



(No Model.)

J. RICHARDS. HYDRAULIC RAM.

No. 357,413. Patented Feb. 8, 1887.

wi twe'ooao @Mc? 02am UNI-Ten STATES J OHN RICHARDS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

H'YDRAULlC RAM.

SPECIFICATION forming part oiLetcers Patent No. 357,413, dated February 8, 1887.

. Application filed July 14, 1886. Serial No. 207,996. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Hydraulic Rams; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon,which formsapartof this specification.

This invention relates to hydraulic rams for raising water; and it consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter described and claimed. The annexed drawing represents a view in elevation of my improved hydraulic ram, the valve-chamber being shown in section to expose the compound valve within.

A represents the main body of the ram,into

which the water enters through the pipe G. This body branches into two divisions, B and C, one of which, as C, leads to the valvechamher D, and the other, as B, to the air,-vessel E and the discharge F. The arrows upon the drawing indicate the directions which the water takes in its several courses.

The escape-valve, located in the chamber D, is compound, consisting of the two parts H and I, which close the two outlets J and K in said chamber. The closure takes place when the valve-stem L is raised.

The respective areas of the two parts H and I of the compound valve are preferably of different sizes, the, top one, H, being the larger. This difference of area is so measured and regulated as nearly as possible that the weight of the valves and their attachments may be supported under the static pressure of the water. As this pressure, however, varies with the head of water employed to operate the ram, it becomes necessary to use supplemental means to open or close the valve,which means consist, preferably, of a chamber or box, P, secured to the valve-stem L, and a balanceweight, Q, carried by a lever, R, fulcrumed upon a support, and whose inner end engages the valve-stem. The chamber]? is adapted to receive weights when the pressure of water is greater than the weight of the valves alone can overcome, and by the addition of these weights a proper balance is'attained and the valves descend and open, and the balanceweight Q assists the valves to close when the head of water is not enough to cause such action by reason of the difference of area between the valves H and I. The weight Q is adjustable along the lever R, according to the amount of leverage that is necessary to overcome the water-pressure. It will be understood, however, that these devices just described are not essential to the successful operation of the ram when the water-pressure and the difference be tween the areas of the valves is enough tosustain,or nearly sustain,the weight of the valves and their attachments. In this way ahydraulic ram may, after it has been constructed and tested, be adapted to various heads of water.

In operating the ram, when the water is at rest the valve-stem L sinks under the action of gravity, thus allowing the water to escape at J and K, as indicated by the arrows. When the current increases in speed and force, the escaping water at J impinges against a curved shield, 0, located above said opening J, and formed integrally with the weight-receiving chamber 1 above described, and by means of said shield the course of the current is reversed and a reaction ensues. The valves and the stem L are thus caused to rise and arrest a the flow, not suddenly and violently, as when the action of the water on the valve H is the sole power for etfectuating this result, but with a gentle force, owing to the difference in area betweeii valvesI-I and I, the final closing pressure being proportioned to this difference in area'and not to the whole area of escape, as is common in machines of this kind. As we have already seen, if the head or static pressure of the water is too much to allow the valve to sink and open weights are added to the chamber 1?, and if the static pressure is not enough to sustain the valves and their attachments the balance-weight Q is used. 'When the valves H and I are closed, the course of the water in that directionis arrested, and it will therefore pursue an upward course into the pipe B, being driven by its own impetus upward through the valve S into the chamber T and air-vessel E,whence it escapes through a discharge-pipe,inserted at F in the usual manner. When the flow ceases, the valve-stem L sinks again, and the operation is repeated at regular intervals of time.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the escape-valve .of a hydraulic ram, of a deflecting-shield, and

a chamber for receiving weights formed integral with said shield andsecured together I therewith to the valve-stem, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a double-seated valve, of a deflecting-shield secured to the valve-stem, a chamber for receiving weights also secured to said stem, and afulcrumed arm carrying a weight and engaging said stem,substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination of the escape chamber having upper and lower openings, the doubleseated valve within said chamber, the weightholder secured to the stem of said valve, and the weighted lever, all arranged to operate as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN RICHARDS. Witnesses:

Calls. F. THOMPSON, A. SCHELL. 

